Best Schools in Decatur, Alabama
25 schools · 15 Elementary · 3 Middle · 4 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Decatur?
Use this page to compare every school in Decatur by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School
Elementary · Decatur City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Eastwood Elementary School
Elementary · Decatur City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Walter Jackson Elementary School
Elementary · Decatur City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Decatur for 2026 are Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School (9.3/10), Eastwood Elementary School (9.1/10), and Walter Jackson Elementary School (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 24 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
25
21 public · 4 private
Avg Score
7.1
out of 10
Median Home
$191,850
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
25
21 public · 4 private
Avg Score
7.1
out of 10
Median Home
$191,850
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 9.3/10 despite 61% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Decatur schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Decatur
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (24 of 25). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Eastwood Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Walter Jackson Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Frances Nungester Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Julian Harris Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Priceville Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Austinville Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | St Ann Catholic School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Bankscaddell Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Chestnut Grove Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.1/10
- Median household income
- $64,227
- Median home value
- $191,850
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
48% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Decatur compares
Alabama rank
#37 of 179
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.7
above Alabama avg (6.4)
Median household income
$64k
108% of Alabama median
Schools in this city
25
About Schools in Decatur, Alabama
Decatur's public school system spans 21 ranked schools with a city average of 7.6 out of 10. That average reflects a landscape where quality is broadly distributed — 13 of 21 schools, or 62%, score 7 or higher. For most families, the city offers a solid performance floor with genuine standouts at the top.
Those standouts are concentrated at the elementary level. Benjamin Davis Elementary School leads Decatur with a 9.9 out of 10 — a near-perfect score that marks it as the city's clearest academic anchor. Julian Harris Elementary follows at 9.4, and Walter Jackson Elementary scores 9.2. Austinville and Eastwood elementary schools each score 8.7, giving families with younger children a strong cluster of high-performing options. All five of Decatur's top-ranked schools are elementary campuses, which makes this an especially appealing city for parents at that stage of the school search.
The 2.3-point spread between the city's top school (9.9) and its average (7.6) signals real variation across campuses. Decatur is not a city where you can pick any school and expect a consistent outcome — address matters here. The 38% of schools that score below 7 are worth mapping before committing to a neighborhood. Families with address flexibility should use individual campus scores, not the city average, as their primary filter.
The practical takeaway: Decatur is a strong market for parents researching elementary options, with multiple high-scoring campuses to compare. Parents of older students should dig deeper into specific middle and high school scores before deciding. The 7.6 city average signals real system-wide health, but campus-level research is what turns a promising city into the right fit for your child.
Elementary Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 261 students · Pre-K–2nd | 9.9 |
| 2 | 290 students · 3rd–5th | 9.3 |
| 3 | 270 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 4 | 240 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.1 |
| 5 | 399 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 6 | 348 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
| 7 | 691 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 8 | 418 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 9 | 447 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
| 10 | 435 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
Show all 15 elementary schools in Decatur
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 510 students · 5th–8th | 6.3 |
| 2 | 792 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 3 | 713 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 2 | 1,026 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
| 3 | 1,055 students · 10th–12th | 5.6 |
| 4 | 504 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 702 students · 8th–9th | 4.4 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 323 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | Cornerstone Christian School
Private
59 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.8 | ||
Schools in Decatur
Decatur, Alabama · 25 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$64,227
Median Home Value
$191,850
Median Rent
$859/mo
Population
67,883
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Community Profile
Decatur has a median household income of $64,227. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $191,850, with a median rent of $859/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.3%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Alabama
- Elementary
- 15
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 4
- Other
- 3
Resources
School Districts (2)
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Alabama
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Decatur, Alabama
How many schools are in Decatur, Alabama?
Decatur has 25 schools, including 21 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Decatur, Alabama?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Decatur is 7.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Decatur, Alabama?
The top-ranked school in Decatur on MySchoolScout is Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Decatur, Alabama?
The top-ranked elementary school in Decatur on MySchoolScout is Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Decatur, Alabama?
The top-ranked middle school in Decatur on MySchoolScout is Priceville Junior High School with a composite score of 6.3/10.
What is the best high school in Decatur, Alabama?
The top-ranked high school in Decatur on MySchoolScout is Decatur High Developmental with a composite score of 6.3/10.
How many school districts serve Decatur, Alabama?
Decatur is served by 2 school districts: Decatur City, Morgan County.
What is the education level in Decatur, Alabama?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Decatur have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Decatur, Alabama?
The median household income in Decatur is approximately $64,227 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Decatur, Alabama?
Yes, Decatur has 4 private schools alongside 21 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Ann Catholic School with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Decatur, Alabama?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Decatur is 15.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Decatur, Alabama?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Alabama Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.